RESUMEN
Thirty-two human thighs were dissected to determine the anatomical organization of the two portions of the vastuslateralis muscle, and their relationships with associated structures the lateral retinaculum and iliotibial tract. In all ofthe cases, the vastus lateralis muscle consisted of a long, proximal portion, (the vastus lateralis longus - VLL), and anoblique, distal portion (the vastus lateralis obliquus - VLO). The oblique portion (VLO) originated from the asperaline of the femur and from the lateral intermuscular septum. The tendon of the VLO ran below and laterally to the longportion (VLL), which it subsequently joined on the superolateral border of the patella. The VLO also interdigitatedwith the lateral retinaculum and iliotibial tract. The VLL showed an extensive aponeurosis in its proximal two thirds.The gross morphology of the VL muscle agreed whith previous descriptions for this muscle and suggested that theVLO could play an important role in patella stabilization. This muscle could therefore be of clinical importance in thetreatment of disorders involving the patellofemoral joint.Key words: Anatomy, lower limb, muscle, quadriceps femoris